RBNZ warns against phone scam

Release date

09 October 2013

The Reserve Bank has issued a
warning against fraudsters who are using the Reserve Bank's name in an
effort to make their scam appear genuine.

The scammers typically tell their victims that they need to pay to process or
release a tax refund, or a one-off bonus from the Government, or to receive some
unclaimed money. The scammers often ask their victim for immediate payment via a
website, which sends the money to the Philippines or India.

The scammers sometimes claim to work for the Reserve Bank, or the Inland
Revenue Department, or Prime Minister John Key. They try to reassure their
victims by claiming that the Reserve Bank can provide a "receipt
number" or other proof that the "release payment" has been
made.

The Reserve Bank's name is used in an effort to reassure their victims
that the scam is genuine.

"The Reserve Bank is not involved in tax refunds or tax collection.
Tax refunds are managed by the Inland Revenue Department, which doesn't
ask for payments in order to process refunds. You don't need to pay the
Inland Revenue Department or any other government agency to receive a tax
refund, bonus payment or receive unclaimed money."

The Reserve Bank strongly advises people to not answer questions from these
scammers, not transfer money to them, and simply hang up the phone if they
call.

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